WMU hosts region's largest gaming convention

March 17, 2006

KALAMAZOO--Like to play games? Then Western Michigan University
is the place to be this month.

WMU will play host to Southwest Michigan's largest gaming
convention Friday through Sunday, March 24-26. Called Marmalade
Dog 11, the public event will feature a variety of board, card,
role-playing and miniature games as well as special events and
a vendor area where businesses related to the hobby gaming industry
will exhibit their wares.

Marmalade Dog, now in its 11th year, is being sponsored by
the Western Michigan Gamers Guild, a registered student organization
at WMU that also is open to nonstudents. The convention is named
after the WMGG's mythical mascot--a shaggy orange dog wearing
a horned helmet and bandoleer.

Most of the 2006 convention's activities will take place in
the first-floor tennis court of WMU's Student Recreation Center.
Some activities, including the sixth annual LAN party from 10
a.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday, will take place in the East Ballroom
of the nearby Bernhard Center.

For the LAN party, participants set up their own computers
and play video games together on a network. Although players
are welcome to run whatever games they wish, convention organizers
will have servers prepared for the two tournament games, F.E.A.R.
and Quake 4, plus Battlefield 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Call
of Duty 2, FarCry and Unreal Tournament 2004. The tournament
is a collaborative effort by the BoxHeads, Repeat Offender and
the WMGG.

Another returning convention mainstay will be the anime screening
room. Put on by the registered student organization Anime Addicts,
it will feature video projection screenings of various animated
and live-action Japanese TV programs.

While mostly harmless, some presentations may not be appropriate
for children. Screenings will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The series will start with "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children"
and end with "Gankutsuou" episodes 14 and 15.

Marmalade Dog 11 admission fees are $20 for all three days,
$15 for Friday and Saturday only or Saturday and Sunday only,
$10 for Saturday only, and $7 for Friday or Sunday only. WMGG
members with photo ID will receive a $5 discount on their total
admission.

Registration and game times will vary throughout the weekend.
The doors will be open from 2:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m.
to 11 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

A Friday-only parking pass may be purchased for $5. Parking
will be free at meters in most lots around the convention site
on Saturday and Sunday.

WMGG has a mix of student and nonstudent members, but only
enrolled WMU students may serve as officers. The organization
gives members a chance to meet gamers who share their interests
as well as a convenient and consistent time and place to play
in pick-up games and long-term campaigns. Members also have access
to WMGG's game materials library of more than 1,000 items and
receive discounts on WMGG tournaments and gaming events.

For more Marmalade Dog information or to register as a player,
game master or exhibitor, visit the convention Web site at www.marmaladedog.org.